Halfway House

Sitting in a bar room all alone
Face in the mirror says far from home
Ask for a drink and watch it pour
Nod to the fella on the stool next door
Listen to a tune played on guitar
Smile at the girl behind the bar
Call for a song and an auld one sings
Gets to the chorus and we all join in

The crowd at the bar all laugh and shout
Knocking back whiskey and pints of stout
Drown your sorrows, raise your glass
To hell with tomorrow now the die is cast
Dealer down from the mountain farm
Spits on his hand and he strikes a palm
All eyes on the door, three players walk in
With a fiddle and a box and a mandolin

Cead mille failte a stor mo chroi
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
Stand at the crossroads make your choice
Living's all a dream it's a halfway house
Pass the point of no return
Burn your bridges, live and learn
Power to your elbow, don't look back
Listen to the music and the songs and the craic

Singer on the floor and the room stands still
Listen to the words of Spancil Hill
Raglan Road and The Galway Shawl
Ends with The Homes of Donegal
Then the fiddle player strikes up Morning Star
Followed byThe Maid Behind The Bar
Joined by the rhythm of the guitar strum
And the rolling beat of the bodhran drum

Eight on the floor for an old set dance
Young ones looking for romance
Swing your partner toe-heel-toe
In and out and round they go
Chasing dreams and running blind
Think of the girl I left behind
The Three Sea Captains, Down The Broom
Pay the piper, call the tune

The call goes out, It's time now please
Finish off your drinks it's time to leave
Lights go out and the music dies
Drain your glass and step outside
Shout goodnight to the empty room
Feel like howling at the moon
Stand there mirrored in the window pane
Turn again to the wind and rain